When he suggested moving some money out of banks and into steam engine pursuits, noting that he’d provide introductions, Jacob didn’t lift a pen.Instead, he turned to Xander and asked, “Your Grace?Do you approve this plan?”
Evan blinked before a slow grin spread across his face.“You’re a good man, Jacob Lancaster.I look forward to working with you more in the future.”
Jacob turned beet red and murmured his thanks before glancing back to Xander.
“It all sounds excellent.You both have my appreciation.Now…here is what I was wondering…”
He ran down the list of properties, pointing to several for which he’d like to give a fifty percent ownership to the man running the day-to-day business.“If my other investments can earn better returns, can I do that?And can I do something similar for my tenant farmers, without jeopardizing the wages of others in my employ or putting a future duke in a tough spot?”
Evan looked at him with interest, his brows raised.“You might have shared that goal with me yesterday, you know.”
“I might have, but I needed to sleep on it to be sure.”
“How much does this have to do with Evie?”
“Less than you might think.”
“But some.Good.And yes, I can understand where your background might play a larger part.’Tis an aggressive plan, but a good one.Lancaster, what think you?”
“I’d prefer to see the plan rolled out over time, as we see how the other investment returns are.However, that’s my conservative approach to managing others’ funds.And Lord Cheltenham here is more of an expert than I am.”
Xander nodded.“If we step through it, I worry about offering some but not others, as it would appear unfair.”
“You could do it property by property?”Jacob suggested.
“What about others whose employment does not allow for such a thing?”Evan asked.
Jacob dismissed that.“Servants get pensions.In fact, if anything, I’d say he’s remedying an unfair balance the other way.”
Evan nodded and stared at the piece of paper.“You might want to review each property and see which are more lucrative than others.Perhaps you sell some of them to simplify your life and invest that in some of the newer technologies being developed.We are becoming less and less an agrarian society.”
“I can draw up those analyses and send them to you, Your Grace.You should visit some of them.Whilst not all of them are entailed, there are some beautiful homes on this list.”
Xander scoffed.“I’ll visit one or two, perhaps.Note which ones you’d recommend, but let’s also see where they fall in terms of profits.I am overwhelmed by the size of the estate in Rutland, never mind other homes.It seems excessive.”
“You might always want to consider,” Evan said, his eyes twinkling, “a wife’s desires, as I’m given to understand you’re contemplating a marriage contract with all this.”
Xander growled at him.When Jacob looked taken aback, he smoothed his face and replied, “I shall take that under advisement.Thank you, Cheltenham.Now, I have one last request, Lancaster.”
Chapter Thirty
Evie was tired.Lifting a teacup was an effort and bringing a fork to her mouth more than a few times in a meal felt Herculean.She wanted to sleep, because when awake she daydreamed of Xander.Their debates about a particular bill, their playful flirting when she was working and he was supposed to be, their late night explorations in his bed.
Sleep wasn’t much better, though.He overtook her dreams so when she woke tears stained her cheeks.
Her thoughts circled with wild ideas to beg his forgiveness again.Tempted to offer him a year more of maid service, she imagined the sexy mischief they could get up to in his library every day.However, part of her sorrow was that he couldn’t see her good intentions.He’d had more respect for her as a maid than he did for her as a lady.Yet she was indeed a lady.
Her goal all along was to see if he would be a suitable husband.Now she knew—she wanted that marriage contract if he could show Lady Evelyn the respect he’d shown the mob-capped Evie.
She’d even live without love.Love had never been something she’d aspired to in a marriage, and she needn’t start now.Having someone who shared her life views and would raise their children with similar beliefs was the most important thing.
Mmm…children.We’ll need lots of practice to ensure he has heirs.Sighing at her wayward thoughts, Evie punched the pillow and rolled over on the chaise longue, nearly falling off.She did not care that it was the middle of the afternoon and she was supposed to be visiting or sewing or doing some charitable deed.She was tired.
Her mother bustled into her room followed by her maid.“Let’s see what she— Evie, are you all right, child?”
Mama perched on the edge of the chaise with a hand to Evie’s forehead.
“Mama, I’m not sick.Just tired.”Too late, she wondered if she should have pleaded a health issue.Was that other ball her parents had been discussing tonight or tomorrow?
